In the Beginning

We should do something big before we're too old.

So, we decided that riding our bicycles across the country would be something "big".

Peter has retirement income from the service, and we can survive on that, barring extravagance. Like buying expensive bicycles. Or gear.

So, we are moving. We are the "failure to launch" kids who live in the folks' basement. It's actually a separate apartment where Grandma used to live. We will be paying modest rent, but will definitely be saving a lot of money. We are acquiring the necessary gear little by little, trying to read up and investigate the least expensive ways of doing things.

I bought a little speedometer on sale at REI. I was with my friend who was buying a $2000 bike. I bought a $15 bike "computer". I installed it the next day. Upside-down. But, now I'm used to reading it upside down. Initially, though, she'd ask me how far we'd gone on a trip after she finished work. "Six and a half miles," I yelled. "Oh wait, that's the time. It's ten to seven." But I have the hang of it now.

I've been training since July and am now riding 70-80 miles per week. I love my bike. I usually ride alone, but once or twice a week, my friend Bronwyn meets up with me and rides her new fancy Canondale. We have fun. Sometimes we ride on the Folsom Bike Trail at night. Last night, we saw several snakes lying stretched out on the asphalt of the trail, soaking up the last of the heat in the dark. We didn't run over them.

For now, Peter has been working out at the gym as part of his training. Once or twice a week I go with him and spend an hour on the elliptical trainer. After a lot of deliberation, we got him a new bike. It's a Trek hybrid. Bob at Placerville Bike Shop says it's a Sissy Girl bike. But I rode it 35 miles to Davis from Folsom, and I like it. Peter is comfortable on it, and it's sturdy. Bob says it'll do the job.